Very interested to see what his number comes back as. 1.45 seconds slower than MMM, but going 28 feet farther (according to trakus) at only one pound less. Nice way to break a maiden for Clement.
First going screamed for more distance. A Tapit out of a Pleasant Colony mare says Classic distance is in play. Wonder what his future odds look like?
Prelim Beyer of 90 and was wide off far turn. Looks like a long winded grinder that will join a rather large group of 3yr olds in the TG 3-5 range.
FG winner Vicars In Trouble a 97 Beyer making performance one of best of any 3yr olds routing so far, very early.
Came out of the 1 hole, Bravo had him 3 wide most of trip. Horse looked good, I would definitely make a rider switch.
Many horses do not fare well running thru kickback while being pinned along the inside and are intentionally wheeled out into a wider path.Maybe Tonalist is one of them.
If it weren\'t early, we couldn\'t engage in irresponsible speculation!
VIT ran big, and against better company, of course. But with Tonalist\'s 6 more pounds and wider trip, I\'d bet their TG numbers come back pretty close (given the Beyers).
I think \"grinder\" is about right. Simlar pattern in his first effort, including the wide trip.
fjmb Wrote:
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> Came out of the 1 hole, Bravo had him 3 wide most
> of trip. Horse looked good, I would definitely
> make a rider switch.
Not a big Bravo fan here, but I don\'t get the rider
switch comment.
I doubt that it makes much sense for either of us
to second guess trainer C. Clement: the guy didn\'t
screw up Gio Ponti too badly, did he? ;)
Love Clemente, I don\'t recall Bravo on Gio. If this is a triple crown horse, I wouldn\'t want Bravo on him. Just my opinion.
fjmb Wrote:
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> Love Clemente, I don\'t recall Bravo on Gio. If
> this is a triple crown horse, I wouldn\'t want
> Bravo on him. Just my opinion.
It was Ramon D. on Gio, of course.
My point was, as handicappers we can get ourselves
in big trouble if we think we know more than the
trainer, especially one as successful as Christophe
Clement. He uses Bravo, quite successfully, for good
reason(s).
Rick,
Most of the negative comments on this board regarding jockeys are ridiculous.
I\'ve just recently found the National Racing Report on the NYRA website (under Videos). They\'ve been raving about how well Bravo is riding in Florida. Richard Migliore has a lot of interesting comments you won\'t read or see elsewhere. He talks about some of the conundrums that jockeys face and occasionally offers opinions on riders and rides (not all positive).
For all the criticism aimed at NYRA here, there are some things they seem to have done well, like these videos and having Maggie in the paddock.
Bit,
Excellent point,NYRA has many people working there that are very savvy about the game.Maggie and the Mig a treasure trove that NYRA management does not fully utilize.NYRA senior management has historically been weak,especially now.
Mike
ajkreider Wrote:
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> Very interested to see what his number comes back
> as. 1.45 seconds slower than MMM, but going 28
> feet farther (according to trakus) at only one
> pound less. Nice way to break a maiden for
> Clement.
>
> First going screamed for more distance. A Tapit
> out of a Pleasant Colony mare says Classic
> distance is in play. Wonder what his future odds
> look like?
Tonalist is 50/1 ML in Ky Derby by Yums! future wager, Round 2, which opens
Thursday. I guess the biggest question I would have is whether Clement will put
this one on the Derby trail.
Clement, like Mott, like McGaughey, like H Allen Jerkens, like the deceased
Bobby Frankel, is a patient horseman. Like the others, Clement has had very
little impact in the Derby preps or the Triple Crown races, especially when
compared to his overall success.
Clement, according to Equibase, won the Withers twice, in 1995 and 1997, but
this was before the Withers was a Derby prep race. The Withers in those years
was run at Belmont, a one turn mile, on Derby weekend.
Clement\'s recent \"Derby\" wins have been in the Calder Derby, the Virginia Derby
and the Hawthorne Derby...all on grass. That might be the biggest knock on
Tonalist... that if he runs a disappointing race on dirt, it would not be
surprising to see Clement switch this horse to grass, the surface where the
trainer has enjoyed incredible success.
Clement also said his promising 3-year-old prospect Tonalist, an impressive maiden winner around two turns here last month, should be ready to run back within the next couple of weeks. Tonalist, a son of Tapit, rallied five wide to a four-length maiden special weight victory going 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 18, for which he earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.
"He had a nice, easy maintenance work on Sunday," Clement said. "We had two or three options possible over the next two weeks. I'll work him back next week and then I'll make my mind up after that. He's a lovely horse; you have to be very excited. The dam is by Pleasant Colony, so he's got all the makings of a horse who'll stay long on the dirt. And if you believe in numbers, his numbers were very good."
Does he jump right in on 2/22 for the FOY turning back to 1 1/16? I don\'t see anything through the 4Th book for a 1 1/8 on dirt NW1 or optional clm for 3 yr old colts; unless they write one for him?
Interesting colt; distance on the dams side, OMG I remember when they used to breed like that in the US.I\'m very curious to see where Clement goes from here; not a fan of turning back a developing 3 yr old.
Good luck,
Frank D.